Michael Crabtree to the Seahawks: "New day. New game."

SANTA CLARA -- Wide receiver Michael Crabtree "can't wait" to play Sunday against a Seattle Seahawks team he watched "take off at the end" for a 29-3 rout of the 49ers three months ago.

"Now it's different. New day, new game," Crabtree said Friday.

After missing the first 11 games while recovering from Achilles surgery, Crabtree debuted last Sunday against the St. Louis Rams and experienced no adverse effects from a 42-snap workload.

"Of course there's going to be a little soreness when I haven't played in a year," Crabtree said. "But it was good to feel sore and feel I did something."

Crabtree's return to the lineup should give the 49ers a different look against the Seahawks. But coach Jim Harbaugh isn't expecting the Seahawks to alter a scheme that's remained consistent during their success. But Harbaugh added: "You never know what changes there'll be in scheme from week to week."

Tight end Vernon Davis is anticipating changes, noting: "They're definitely going to have to make changes. We've got Crabtree back and have pretty much all our weapons. It's going to be exciting and interesting to see the changes they make to stop us. They can't leave us one-on-one the whole time."

Davis had just three receptions for 20 yards, and Anquan Boldin had only a 7-yard catch in the Sept. 15 loss at Seattle.

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Crabtree had four receptions and no touchdowns in each of last season's games with the Seahawks, but he made a 41-yard catch that keyed a Dec. 24, 2011, win at Seattle.

"I can't wait to go out there and do what I can do," Crabtree said. "This week is a big week for us. With that (11-1) record, you're supposed to be the top team in the NFL. We'll see on Sunday. It gets you hyped. Now it's about me calming down. This is my second game. I can't wait to go and play."

Asked about a potential matchup with Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, Crabtree said this game is "not about one person or two people."

Left tackle Joe Staley vowed to play Sunday after practicing a second straight day with a Grade I sprain of his right knee's medial collateral ligament. "It still hurts. It's stiff. But it's something I can play through," Staley said. He's officially listed as questionable, and Harbaugh wants to see how Staley feels Saturday.

Clete Blakeman, who's been involved in recent officiating controversies, will be Sunday's referee. He failed to call a penalty on Steelers coach Mike Tomlin for his sideline interference on Jacoby Jones' kick return on Thanksgiving. Only 2½ weeks ago, Blakeman waved off a potential pass-interference penalty at the end of the New England Patriots' loss in Carolina.

Blakeman didn't go unnoticed in his past two 49ers games. Last season, he and his crew allowed 79 seconds to improperly run off the clock in the 49ers' 24-24 tie with the St. Louis Rams. In 2010, Blakeman ejected defensive tackle Justin Smith for making contact with umpire Garth DeFelice in a 34-7 loss at San Diego. Although Blakeman deemed Smith's act "intentional," the league did not fine Smith for his actions.

The 49ers and Seahawks combined for 22 penalties and 205 penalty yards in their Sept. 15 meeting.

Cornerback Tarell Brown said his right-rib injury is "something I'm going to have to fight through the rest of the season." Tramaine Brock is expected to start a third straight game in place of Brown.

Left guard Mike Iupati still has not practiced since spraining his left knee Nov. 17. He is listed as questionable, and Adam Snyder likely will start in his place. Snyder got fined $7,875 by the NFL this week for a personal-foul penalty in Sunday's win over the Rams.

The Rams' T.J. McDonald was not fined for tackling Vernon Davis by the groin last Sunday.

Harbaugh didn't pump up the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry more than any other, noting: "They all feel like a rivalry every single week. That's why I always thought it's a sprint, not a marathon."

Staley, however, said the 49ers-Seahawks rivalry has "gotten worse" in recent seasons for a "variety" of reasons. "I don't have a magic answer why it's intense, but it is," Staley said.

Former 49ers wideout Ricardo Lockette has had one catch in three of the Seahawks' past four games, including a 33-yarder Monday night against New Orleans. Quarterback B.J. Daniels, released Oct. 1 by the 49ers, is on Seattle's practice squad.